(Newser)
–
Looks like Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman will be facing trial in the US, CNN reports. A Mexican judge has ruled that Guzman, who was recaptured in January after a stunning 2015 prison breakout, can be extradited to the States. If that happens, officials say he'll go to Brooklyn on federal charges—but his extradition isn't a slam dunk. As the New York Times explains, the Ministry of Foreign Relations in Mexico first has to approve the move over the next 30 days. "The ball is now in the Foreign Ministry’s court and they have a month to execute the process or not," says a spokesman for the Mexican judiciary. "They have been notified and received the file."

"There is nothing, legally speaking that could impede the extradition, from the judicial system point of view," adds the spokesman. But one of Guzman's attorneys calls the move a human rights violation and says there are nine appeals pending against it, Reuters reports. Government officials say it's mostly a political decision and will depend on President Enrique Peña Nieto. Meanwhile, Guzman was transferred over the weekend to a prison in Ciudad Juárez, a city just south of El Paso along the Texas border. Why isn't clear, but the move might ease his eventual extradition; it also comes a month after Guzman's top lawyer complained that conditions at Altiplano lockup in central Mexico were making Guzman ill.

Of course the Mexican judge wants to give El Chumpo to the US. The Mexican government wants to give us all their POS illegals, drug pushers and lowlifes, because they send most of their money back to their relatives in Mexico.

Mr_Joshua

May 10, 2016 9:46 AM CDT

There are two trains of thought to this. Yes, Uncle Sam would like to have him, but given the conditions in Mexican jails, he will do his time much harder down there than he would in a US jail (if they can keep him from escaping again). Even a US supermax is a palace compared to ANY Mexican jail. Why should the US have to foot the bill to keep him alive for the rest of his miserable life. Why spend millions of dollars when a single bullet costing 50 cents could solve the problem definitively. And you can call me.................. Mr. Joshua

$82496178

May 10, 2016 5:01 AM CDT

Of course El Chapo has been moved to Ciudad Juarez. Look at the map. A quick jump across to El Paso, and right up the interstate to Pueblo, Colorado. Hook a left, and you're at Florence, Colorado, home of the most secure Federal lockup in the U.S.